page_title: List of butterflies of North America (Lycaenidae)
section_title: Subfamily Theclinae: hairstreaks
hierarchical_section_title: List of butterflies of North America (Lycaenidae) / Subfamily Theclinae: hairstreaks
caption_attribution_description: Probably a Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), but not sure. Taken at the trail head for the hike to Cedro Peak, south of Tijeras, New Mexico (see this page for map and info. Taken with 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. Brightness +11 with Nikon Picture Project.
context_page_description: Gossamer-wings are the smallest butterflies. Their wingspans range from 0.5-2.0 inches. There are about 7,000 species worldwide with about 139 species in North America. Gossamer-wings include the subfamilies hairstreaks, harvesters, coppers, and blues. Their flights vary from the fast, erratic hairstreaks to the slow, bouncy blues. They like to feed at flowers, and males like to puddle at damp ground. Most male gossamer-wings locate females by perching, while some males patrol. The turban-shaped eggs are usually laid singly. The larva is oval shaped with a flattened underside. Some species have honeydew glands that attract ants. Ants like to eat and collect the honeydew made by the caterpillar. In turn, the ants will swarm over anything that might try to harm the larva. The chrysalis is usually formed in leaf litter. Many chrysalises can make faint noises. Scientists believe this noise might ward off predatory ants.
context_section_description: Colorado hairstreak, Hypaurotia crysalus
  Golden hairstreak, Habrodais grunus
  Atala, Eumaeus atala
  Superb cycadian, Eumaeus childrenae
  Strophius hairstreak, Allosmaitia strophius
  Great purple hairstreak, Atlides halesus
  Creamy stripe-streak, Arawacus jada
  Gold-bordered hairstreak, Rekoa palegon
  Smudged hairstreak, Rekoa stagira
  Marius hairstreak, Rekoa marius
  Black hairstreak, Ocaria ocrisia
  Amethyst hairstreak, Chlorostrymon maesites
  Telea hairstreak, Chlorostrymon telea
  Silver-banded hairstreak, Chlorostrymon simaethis
  Soapberry hairstreak, Phaeostrymon alcestis
  Coral hairstreak, Satyrium titus
  Behr's hairstreak, Satyrium behrii
  Sooty hairstreak, Satyrium fuliginosum
  Acadian hairstreak, Satyrium acadica
  California hairstreak, Satyrium californica
  Sylvan hairstreak, Satyrium sylvinus
  Edward's hairstreak, Satyrium edwardsii
  Banded hairstreak, Satyrium calanus
  Hickory hairstreak, Satyrium caryaevorum
  King's hairstreak, Satyrium kingi
  Striped hairstreak, Satyrium liparops
  Gold-hunter's hairstreak, Satyrium auretorum
  Mountain mahogany hairstreak, Satyrium tetra
  Hedgerow hairstreak, Satyrium saepium
  Oak hairstreak, Satyrium favonius
  Southern oak hairstreak, Satyrium favonius favonius
  Northern oak hairstreak, Satyrium favonius ontario
  Ilavia hairstreak, Satyrium ilavia
  Poling's hairstreak, Satyrium polingi
  Clench's greenstreak, Cyanophrys miserabilis
  Goodson's greenstreak, Cyanophrys goodsoni
  Cramer's greenstreak, Cyanophrys amyntor
  Tropical greenstreak, Cyanophrys herodotus
  Brown-spotted greenstreak, Cyanophrys longula
  Bramble hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum
  Bramble bramble hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum dumetorum
  Coastal bramble hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum viridis
  Canyon bramble hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum apama
  Immaculate bramble hairstreak, Callophys dumetorum affinis
  Sheridan's hairstreak, Callophrys sheridanii
  White-lined Sheridan's hairstreak, Callophrys sheridanii sheridanii
  Desert Sheridan's hairstreak, Callophrys sheridanii comstocki
  Alpine Sheridan's hairstreak, Callophrys sheridanii lemberti
  Xami hairstreak, Callophrys xami
  Sandia hairstreak, Callophrys mcfarlandi
  Brown elfin, Callophrys augustinus
  Desert elfin, Callophrys fotis
  Moss's elfin, Callophrys mossii
  Hoary elfin, Callophrys polios
  Frosted elfin, Callophrys irus
  Henry's elfin, Callophrys henrici
  Bog elfin, Callophrys lanoraieensis
  Eastern pine elfin, Callophrys niphon
  Western pine elfin, Callophrys eryphon
  Thicket hairstreak, Callophrys spinetorum
  Johnson's hairstreak, Callophrys johnsoni
  Juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus
  Olive juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus gryneus
  Sweadner's juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus sweadneri
  Siva juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus siva
  Nelson's juniper Hiarstreak, Callophrys gryneus nelsoni
  Muir's juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus muiri
  Loki's juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus loki
  Thorne's juniper hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus thornei
  Hessel's hairstreak, Callophrys hesseli
  Aquamarine hairstreak, Oenomaus ortygnus
  Broken-M hairstreak, Parrhasius polibetes
  White M hairstreak, Parrhasius m-album
  Mexican-M hairstreak, Parhassius moctezuma
  Gray hairstreak, Strymon melinus
  Avalon scrub-hairstreak, Strymon avalona
  Red-crescent scrub-hairstreak, Strymon rufofusca
  Red-lined scrub-hairstreak, Strymon bebrycia
  Martial scrub-hairstreak, Strymon martialis
  Yojoa scrub-hairstreak, Strymon yojoa
  White scrub-hairstreak, Strymon albata
  Bartram's scrub-hairstreak, Strymon acis
  Lacey's scrub-hairstreak, Strymon alea
  Mallow scrub-hairstreak, Strymon istapa
  Disguised scrub-hairstreak, Strymon limenia
  Tailless scrub-hairstreak, Strymon cestri
  Lantana scrub-hairstreak, Strymon bazochii
  Bromeliad scrub-hairstreak, Strymon serapio
  Confusing scrub-hairstreak, Strymon megarus
  Orange-crescent groundstreak, Ziegleria guzanta
  Ruddy hairstreak, Electrostrymon sangala
  Fulvous hairstreak, Electrostrymon angelia
  Muted hairstreak, Electrostrymon canus
  Red-banded hairstreak, Calycopis cecrops
  Dusky-blue groundstreak, Calycopis isobeon
  Susanna's groundstreak, Calycopis origo
  Red-spotted hairstreak, Tmolus echion
  Pearl
caption: Great purple hairstreak, Atlides halesus
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